NaRALap: augmented reality system for navigation in laparoscopic surgery

The AR system has a good resolution and currently is used for the placement of the trocars. Possible improvements will be performed to make the system independent of the camera position or to use natural marks. The biomechanical model and the AR algorithms will be combined with a tracker, for tracking the surgical instruments, in order to implement a valid system for liver biopsies. It will take into account the deformation due to the pneumoperitoneum and due to the breath of the patient. To develop the navigator that will guide the laparoscopic interventions, both AR system and biomechanical model will be combined with the laparoscopic camera in order to make an easier environment with only one vision in a 2D monitor.

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11548-011-0579-z.